| (11) | EP 3 587 737 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) | FAN BLADE ATTACHMENT ROOT WITH IMPROVED STRAIN RESPONSE BEFESTIGUNGSFUSS EINER GEBLÄSESCHAUFEL MIT VERBESSERTER BELASTUNGSREAKTION PIED DE FIXATION D'AUBE DE SOUFFLANTE PRÉSENTANT UNE MEILLEURE RÉPONSE À LA CHARGE |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to gas turbine engines, and, more specifically, to a fan blade attachment root with an improved strain response to impact events.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Aircraft may collide with birds while in flight. In some instances, birds may collide with a gas turbine engine. In gas turbine engines having a fan, the fan blades may absorb the brunt of an impact. The impulse from impact may result in temporarily elevated strain in the fan blades. The area subjected to the increased strain may be the transition zone on the leading edge of the fan blade below the sheath. Stiff fan blades, for example, may be susceptible to damage at such area during an impact event.
[0003] A prior art attachment root having the features of the preamble to claim 1 is disclosed in WO 2014/204542. Other prior art fan blades having root attachment troughs are disclosed in US 5,431,542, EP 2,907,971, US 5,435,694 and EP 1,136,654.
SUMMARY
[0004] From one aspect, the present invention provides a fan blade attachment root in accordance with claim 1.
[0005] From another aspect, the present invention provides a gas turbine engine in accordance with claim 6.
[0007] In various embodiments, the trench may comprise a cylindrical trough and an end surface having a spherical geometry. A height of the trench may equal a width of the trench. The trench may comprise a cylindrical trough and an end surface having a spherical geometry.
[0008] The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and nonlimiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary gas turbine engine, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 2A illustrates an attachment root with a trench extending axially from a leading edge of the attachment root, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of an attachment root with a trench extending axially from a leading edge of the attachment root, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an attachment root with a trench, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an attachment root with a trench extending at least half the axial length of the attachment root, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 4A illustrates an attachment root with a trench offset from the leading edge of the attachment root, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of an attachment root with a trench offset from the leading edge of the attachment root, in accordance with various embodiments;
FIG. 5A illustrates an attachment root with multiple recesses formed in the attachment root, outside the wording of the claims; and
FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of an attachment root with multiple recesses formed in the attachment root, outside the wording of the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation. The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented.
[0011] Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option.
[0012] Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.
[0013] As used herein, "aft" refers to the direction associated with the tail (e.g., the back end) of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of exhaust of the gas turbine. As used herein, "forward" refers to the direction associated with the nose (e.g., the front end) of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of flight or motion.
[0014] As used herein, "distal" refers to the direction radially outward, or generally, away from the axis of rotation of a turbine engine. As used herein, "proximal" refers to a direction radially inward, or generally, towards the axis of rotation of a turbine engine.
[0015] In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1, a gas-turbine engine 20 is provided. Gas-turbine engine 20 may be a two-spool turbofan that generally incorporates a fan section 22, a compressor section 24, a combustor section 26 and a turbine section 28. Alternative engines may include, for example, an augmentor section among other systems or features. In operation, fan section 22 can drive coolant along a bypass flow-path B while compressor section 24 can drive coolant along a core flow-path C for compression and communication into combustor section 26 then expansion through turbine section 28. Although depicted as a turbofan gas-turbine engine 20 herein, it should be understood that the concepts described herein are not limited to use with turbofans as the teachings may be applied to other types of turbine engines including three-spool architectures.
[0016] Gas-turbine engine 20 may generally comprise a low speed spool 30 and a high speed spool 32 mounted for rotation about an engine central longitudinal axis A-A' relative to an engine static structure 36 via several bearing systems 38, 38-1, and 38-2. Engine central longitudinal axis A-A' is oriented in the z direction on the provided xyz axis. It should be understood that various bearing systems 38 at various locations may alternatively or additionally be provided, including for example, bearing system 38, bearing system 38-1, and bearing system 38-2. In various embodiments, bearing system 38, bearing system 38-1, and bearing system 38-2 may be contained within a bearing housing and/or integrated into an oil delivery system, as described in further detail below.
[0017] Low speed spool 30 may generally comprise an inner shaft 40 that interconnects a fan 42, a low pressure (or first) compressor section 44 and a low pressure (or first) turbine section 46. Inner shaft 40 may be connected to fan 42 through a geared architecture 48 that can drive fan 42 at a lower speed than low speed spool 30. Geared architecture 48 may comprise a gear assembly 60 enclosed within a gear housing 62. Gear assembly 60 couples inner shaft 40 to a rotating fan structure. High speed spool 32 may comprise an outer shaft 50 that interconnects a high pressure (or second) compressor 52 and high pressure (or second) turbine 54. A combustor 56 may be located between high pressure compressor 52 and high pressure turbine 54. A mid-turbine frame 57 of engine static structure 36 may be located generally between high pressure turbine 54 and low pressure turbine 46. Mid-turbine frame 57 may support one or more bearing systems 38 in turbine section 28. Inner shaft 40 and outer shaft 50 may be concentric and rotate via bearing systems 38 about the engine central longitudinal axis A-A', which is collinear with their longitudinal axes. As used herein, a "high pressure" compressor or turbine experiences a higher pressure than a corresponding "low pressure" compressor or turbine.
[0018] The core airflow C may be compressed by low pressure compressor section 44 then high pressure compressor 52, mixed and burned with fuel in combustor 56, then expanded over high pressure turbine 54 and low pressure turbine 46. Turbines 46, 54 rotationally drive the respective low speed spool 30 and high speed spool 32 in response to the expansion.
[0019] Gas-turbine engine 20 may be, for example, a high-bypass ratio geared aircraft engine. In various embodiments, the bypass ratio of gas-turbine engine 20 may be greater than about six (6). In various embodiments, the bypass ratio of gas-turbine engine 20 may be greater than ten (10). In various embodiments, geared architecture 48 may be an epicyclic gear train, such as a star gear system (sun gear in meshing engagement with a plurality of star gears supported by a carrier and in meshing engagement with a ring gear) or other gear system. Geared architecture 48 may have a gear reduction ratio of greater than about 2.3 and low pressure turbine 46 may have a pressure ratio that is greater than about five (5). In various embodiments, the bypass ratio of gas-turbine engine 20 is greater than about ten (10:1). In various embodiments, the diameter of fan 42 may be significantly larger than that of the low pressure compressor section 44, and the low pressure turbine 46 may have a pressure ratio that is greater than about five (5:1). Low pressure turbine 46 pressure ratio may be measured prior to inlet of low pressure turbine 46 as related to the pressure at the outlet of low pressure turbine 46 prior to an exhaust nozzle.
[0020] Fan 42 may comprise blades that rotate about the engine central longitudinal axis A-A'. The blades may be airfoils coupled to a rotating hub by an attachment root. As described in further detail below, the attachment root of the blades have trenches or recesses that increase flexibility of the blades. In that regard, blades with trenches may absorb impact while limiting damage from any resulting strain.
[0021] With reference to FIGs. 2A-2C, an attachment root 100 (e.g., of the blade of FIG. 1) is shown with a trench 104 formed in surface 102, in accordance with various embodiments. Attachment root 100 comprises a leading edge 106. Leading edge 106 may be disposed in a forward position relative to other portions of attachment root 100 when a blade is installed in an engine, with the remainder of attachment root 100 extending aft of leading edge 106. Trench 104 may thus be a recess extending aft from leading edge 106 in surface 102. Trench 104 may be a recess formed in a surface 102 of attachment root 100. Sidewall 112 may have a convex geometry matching the geometry of surface 102. Similarly, sidewall 110 may have a concave geometry matching the geometry of surface 102. In that regard, sidewall 110 and sidewall 112 may be spaced a uniform distance from the edge of surface 102. Trench 104 has an end surface 108 disposed at an interior area of surface 102. Trench 104 extends a length L1 in an axial direction.
[0022] In various embodiments, attachment root 100 may comprise leading surface 120 at leading edge 106 of attachment root 100. A dovetail 122 of attachment root 100 may flare out in a circumferential direction to provide a contact surface and retain blade 43 using a dovetail-type joint. Trench 104 may comprise a cylindrical trough 124 formed in surface 102 (i.e., the bottom surface of dovetail 122) and terminating at end surface 108 having a spherical geometry. Cylindrical trough 124 may have a width W1 and join sidewall 110 and sidewall 112, with each sidewall extending tangentially away from cylindrical trough 124 and sidewall 110 being parallel to sidewall 112. Sidewall 112 and sidewall 110 may be oriented orthogonally to surface 102. Trench 104 may have a height H1 from surface 102 into attachment root 100. The rounded contour of cylindrical trough 124 and the spherical contour of end surface 108 may limit stress concentrations in trench 104. However, trench 104 may be rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, multi-radial, or any other shape to reduce strain concentrations resulting from impact events.
[0023] In various embodiments, height H1 and width W1 may be equal. For example, height H1 and width W1 may each be a half inch (1.27 cm). The height H1, width W1, and length L1 of trench 104 may be selected based on a desired flexibility. A greater height H1, width W1, and/or length L1 will result in greater flexibility compared to a trench with smaller dimensions. In that regard, trench 104 having a greater volume may result in increased flexibility compared to a trench 104 having lower volume. With reference to FIG. 3, attachment root 130 is shown with trench 134 in surface 132. Trench 134 extends from leading surface 136 to end surface 138 with the length L2 of trench 134 being at least half length L3 of attachment root 130.
[0024] With reference to FIGs. 4A and 4B, attachment root 150 is shown with a trench 154 offset a distance D1 from leading edge 160 of attachment root 150. A full hoop of material around trench 154 with trench 154 offset from leading edge 160 may be stiffer than trench 104 (of FIG. 2A) with an opening at the leading edge. In various embodiments, a leading surface 156 of trench 154 may begin distance D1 from leading edge 160. Leading surface 156 may be a spherical surface to limit stress concentrations. Trailing surface 158 of trench 154 may be a spherical similar to leading surface 156. Trench 154 may comprise a cylindrical trough extending between leading surface 156 and trailing surface 158. The length L4 of trench 154 may be selected to achieve a suitable level of flexibility for attachment root 150. Trench 154 may have a cross section of the same shape and size as trench 104 in FIG. 2C.
[0025] With reference to FIGs. 5A-5B, which illustrate an arrangement falling outside the wording of the claims, attachment root 170 is shown with recesses 174 in surface 176. Recesses 174 may be disposed in a forward portion of surface 176. Recesses 174 may also be offset from leading edge 178 similar to trench 154 of FIG. 4A. Recesses 174 may further have a cross section as illustrated with reference to trench 104 in FIG. 2C. The walls 172 defining recess 174 are illustrated as circular and/or spherical, though a square geometry, rectangular geometry, elliptical geometry, or other shaped geometry may be effective as well. The circular geometries without sharp corners may experience lower stress concentrations than angular geometries. The numbers of and dimensions of recesses 174 may be selected to attain a suitable flexibility for attachment root 170.
[0026] An attachment root with recesses formed in the attachment root may provide reduced strain concentrations in response to an impact event. Added flexibility may allow a fan blade to give and spread the impulse of the impact event over a greater time period at lower force. In that regard, an attachment root with a trench formed in the attachment root may be resistant to damage resulting from impact events.
[0027] Benefits and other advantages have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, and any elements that may cause any benefit or advantage to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." Moreover, where a phrase similar to "at least one of A, B, or C" is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.
[0028] Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to "various embodiments", "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.
1. A fan blade attachment root (100;130;150) for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
the trench (104;124;134) terminating at an end surface (108;138;158) disposed at an interior area of the surface (102) of the dovetail (122), wherein an axial length (L1;L2) of the trench (104;124;134;154) is less than an axial length (L3) of the attachment root (100;130;150) and at least half the axial length (L3) of the attachment root (100;130;150).
a leading edge (106;160);
a dovetail (122) extending aft of the leading edge (106; 160); and
a trench (104;124;134;154) formed in a bottom surface of the dovetail (122);
characterized by:the trench (104;124;134) terminating at an end surface (108;138;158) disposed at an interior area of the surface (102) of the dovetail (122), wherein an axial length (L1;L2) of the trench (104;124;134;154) is less than an axial length (L3) of the attachment root (100;130;150) and at least half the axial length (L3) of the attachment root (100;130;150).
2. The attachment root of claim 1, wherein the trench (104;124;134;154) comprises a cylindrical trough (124) and the end surface (108;138;158) has a spherical geometry.
3. The attachment root of claim 2, wherein the trench (104;124;134;154) further comprises a first sidewall (110) and a second sidewall (112) parallel to the first sidewall (110), wherein the first sidewall (110) and the second sidewall (112) extend tangentially from the cylindrical trough (124).
4. The attachment root of any preceding claim, wherein the trench (104;124;134;154) is offset from the leading edge (106;160;178).
5. The attachment root of any preceding claim, wherein a height (H1) of the trench (104;124;134;154) equals a width (W1) of the trench (104;124;134;154).
6. A gas turbine engine (20), comprising:
a compressor section (24) configured to rotate about an axis (A-A');
a combustor (56) aft of the compressor section (24);
a turbine section (28) aft of the combustor (56) and configured to rotate about the axis (A-A'); and
a fan (22) forward of the turbine section (28) comprising a blade (42) and the attachment root (100;130;150) of any preceding claim.
7. A fan blade (42), comprising a leading edge and the attachment root (100; 130; 150) of any of claims 1 to 5, the attachment root (100; 130) extending aft of the fan blade leading edge.
1. Befestigungsfuß einer Gebläseschaufel (100; 130; 150) für einen Gasturbinenmotor, umfassend:
eine Vorderkante (106; 160);
einen Schwalbenschwanz (122), der sich hinter der Vorderkante (106; 160) erstreckt; und
eine Vertiefung (104; 124; 134; 154), die in einer Bodenfläche des Schwalbenschwanzes (122) ausgebildet ist; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
die Vertiefung (104; 124; 134) an einer Abschlussfläche (108; 138; 158) endet; die an einem Innenbereich der Oberfläche (102) des Schwalbenschwanzes (122) angeordnet ist, wobei eine axiale Länge (L1; L2) der Vertiefung (104; 124; 134; 154) kleiner ist als eine axiale Länge (L3) des Befestigungsfußes (100; 130; 150) und mindestens die Hälfte der axialen Länge (L3) des Befestigungsfußes (100; 130; 150).
2. Befestigungsfuß nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Vertiefung (104; 124; 134; 154) eine zylindrische Rinne (124) umfasst und die Abschlussfläche (108; 138; 158) eine sphärische Geometrie aufweist.
3. Befestigungsfuß nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Vertiefung (104; 124; 134; 154) ferner eine erste Seitenwand (110) und eine zweite Seitenwand (112) parallel zu der ersten Seitenwand (110) umfasst, wobei die erste Seitenwand (110) und die zweite Seitenwand (112) tangential von der zylindrischen Rinne (124) ausgehen.
4. Befestigungsfuß nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Vertiefung (104; 124; 134; 154) von der Vorderkante (106; 160; 178) versetzt ist.
5. Befestigungsfuß nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine Höhe (H1) der Vertiefung (104; 124; 134; 154) gleich einer Breite (W1) der Vertiefung (104;124;134;154) ist.
6. Gasturbinenmotor (20), umfassend:
einen Kompressorabschnitt (24), der so konfiguriert ist, dass er sich um eine Achse (A-A') dreht;
eine Brennkammer (56) hinter dem Kompressorabschnitt (24);
einen Turbinenabschnitt (28) hinter der Brennkammer (56) und so konfiguriert, dass er sich um die Achse (A-A') dreht; und
ein Gebläse (22) vor dem Turbinenabschnitt (28), der eine Schaufel (42) und den Befestigungsfuß (100); 130; 150) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche umfasst.
7. Gebläseschaufel (42), umfassend eine Vorderkante und den Befestigungsfuß (100; 130; 150) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei sich der Befestigungsfuß (100; 130) hinter der Vorderkante der Gebläseschaufel erstreckt.
1. Pied de fixation d'aube de soufflante (100 ; 130 ; 150) pour un moteur à turbine à gaz, comprenant :
un bord d'attaque (106 ; 160) ;
une queue d'aronde (122) s'étendant à l'arrière du bord d'attaque (106 ; 160) ; et
une tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154) formée dans une surface inférieure de la queue d'aronde (122) ; caractérisé par :
la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134) se terminant au niveau d'une surface d'extrémité (108 ; 138 ; 158) disposée au niveau d'une zone intérieure de la surface (102) de la queue d'aronde (122), dans lequel une longueur axiale (L1 ; L2) de la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154) est inférieure à une longueur axiale (L3) du pied de fixation (100 ; 130 ; 150) et au moins la moitié de la longueur axiale (L3) du pied de fixation (100 ; 130 ; 150).
2. Pied de fixation selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154) comprend une cuve cylindrique (124) et la surface d'extrémité (108 ; 138 ; 158) a une géométrie sphérique.
3. Pied de fixation selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154) comprend en outre une première paroi latérale (110) et une seconde paroi latérale (112) parallèle à la première paroi latérale (110), dans lequel la première paroi latérale (110) et la seconde paroi latérale (112) s'étendent tangentiellement à partir de la cuve cylindrique (124) .
4. Pied de fixation selon une quelconque revendication précédente, dans lequel la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154) est décalée du bord d'attaque (106 ; 160 ; 178).
5. Pied de fixation selon une quelconque revendication précédente, dans lequel une hauteur (H1) de la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154) est égale à une largeur (W1) de la tranchée (104 ; 124 ; 134 ; 154).
6. Moteur à turbine à gaz (20), comprenant :
une section de compresseur (24) configurée pour tourner autour d'un axe (A-A') ;
une chambre de combustion (56) à l'arrière de la section de compresseur (24) ;
une section de turbine (28) à l'arrière de la chambre de combustion (56) et configurée pour tourner autour de l'axe (A-A') ; et
une soufflante (22) en avant de la section de turbine (28) comprenant une aube (42) et le pied de fixation (100 ; 130 ; 150) selon une quelconque revendication précédente.
7. Aube de soufflante (42), comprenant un bord d'attaque et la pied de fixation (100 ; 130 ; 150) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, le pied de fixation (100 ; 130) s'étendant à l'arrière du bord d'attaque de l'aube de soufflante.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description